Objectives: To protect and manage the marine environment and coastal areas of the Eastern African region.

Summary of provisions: The Parties agree to take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce and combat pollution of the Convention area (art. 4), particularly pollution from ships (art. 5), dumping (art. 6), land- based sources (art. 7), exploration and exploitation of the sea bed (art. 8), and airborne pollution (art. 9). They undertake to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems as well as the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species and other marine life in specially protected areas (art. 10) and to cooperate in dealing with pollution emergencies in the Convention area (art. 11). Parties are take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce and combat environmental damage in the Convention area resulting from dredging, land reclamation, and other engineering activities (art. 12). Moreover, they are to develop guidelines for the planning of major development projects in the Convention area, assess the environmental effects of development projects likely to cause significant adverse changes in the Convention area, and develop procedures for dissemination of information and consultation among the parties in such assessments (art. 13). Parties are also to cooperate in scientific research and monitoring in the Convention area and exchange of data collected (art. 14) and in the development of rules and procedures to govern liability and compensation for damage caused by pollution in the Convention area (art. 15).

Institutional mechanism: The Convention designates UNEP to discharge Secretariat functions under the Convention (art. 16). The Convention includes an annex, establishing arbitration procedures for resolution of disputes between Contracting Parties.

(Source: IUCN ELC, 08.2005, based on UNEP Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment, 1996)